Perfection Is Not An Option: Stop Using Its Lack As An Excuse To Not Deal With Sin

Jon and Kate. You know the rest. What's troubling to me is that this has turned into "Divorce: American Style". I suffered watching several episodes (my kids thought their kids were cute), but it was apparent that Kate was the leader of that home and marriage and treated Jon horribly. Jon was a wimp and wasn't man enough to lead the home and stand up to Kate. Even my 15 year old clearly saw this. We knew they were headed for divorce. This was no surprise to us. I stopped allowing my kids to watch it because of this. It was really quit irrinoying (irritating and annoying).

What's worse is that their show has become a soap opera. Divorce of Octomom and Octodad will make for good t.v. I guess. But that's really low. And honestly quite disturbing.

What's' even more irrinoying is that TLC uses the tiresome line: "Jon and Kate have never said they were perfect, which has made them relatable and created an undeniable connection with the viewers. We will continue to capture this family's journey in a respectful and sensitive way."

This is a BROKEN family. The respectable thing would be to shut down production. How does TLC define "respectable"? What does "sensitive" mean? Showing a broken family on national t.v. for money?

The other irrinoying issue I have is with this TIRESOME defense of sin as "_______ never said they were perfect". That's code for: shut up and don't judge what I'm doing as wrong. If I had a dime for every time that line has been used to close down a conversation when it got too close to home, I'd be rich indeed!

Seriously, do you know anyone who has actually claimed to be perfect? Anyone? Just one person? Of course not. Does anyone claim J &K said they were perfect? Nope. So why is it stated as if someone has???? That's dishonest and wrong.

So why do people use that? Its utterly ridiculous to use that as excusing one's sin. The ONLY perfect, sinless Person is Jesus Christ who is God the Son and took on flesh so that He could die on the cross for sinners.

Since no one is perfect, then that clearly isn't even part of the discussion or equation. The issue is sin. And herein lies the REAL issue.

A.W. Pink once said:

"If pride and haughtiness are to be reprehended; then mock humility or even an undue occupation with our own frailty and faultiness, is not to be commended. If we must wait until we are blameless, then there are many precepts of Scripture we cannot act upon. If we must tarry until our own character and conduct be faultless, then we are disqualified from rebuking anybody. We greatly fear that many have created their own difficulty or deterrent through a wrongful appropriation of those words "he who is without sin—let him first cast a stone" (John 8:7). How often have we heard professing Christians say, when it had become their manifest duty to admonish another, "Who am I—to cast stones at others?" It should be remembered, that John 8:7 was not spoken to conscientious saints, jealous of the honor of the Lord, anxious to promote the good of others—but to hypocritical pharisees, who were deliberately seeking to ensnare Christ.Hence the force of "bearing with one another in love" (Eph 4:2); yet that must not be twisted into "winking at one another's faults" or condoning sin—under the pretense of love."

"I am certainly not perfect" doesn't need to be a qualifier in any discussion of sin, because its always ASSUMED not ONE human being IS perfect.

Rom 3:10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one...12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

Jas 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

Jas 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Likewise it is absolutely inappropriate for any self-proclaimed Christian to excuse their sin using that line of "Nobody's perfect", thus casting off judgment of their sin, to the one who sees the sin.

Gal 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Mat 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

This doesn't demand perfection. God certainly knows we are "but dust" and that every man is born a sinner, therefore perfection before dealing with a sinning brother is never an option. Ever. What IS required is that one is spiritual--able to decipher sin in light of Scripture and come alongside a sinning brother and try to help him back to restoration, in meekness. If not, Matthew 18 tells us then we go get another witness and so on (called church discipline) for his own benefit and that of his local church's.

So please, stop using perfection as an excuse for not dealing sin and error. Just deal with the actual issue. That's what The Master wants and its what we need.